Ireland will not compete in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and RTÉ has confirmed it will not broadcast the event either, due to Israel’s participation. 

Among the most vocal advocates for withdrawal has been Charlie McGettigan, Ireland’s 1994 Eurovision winner, who joined The Anton Savage Show to discuss the implications of RTÉ’s decision.

 He argued that the decision helps to "draw attention to the situation in Gaza," where foreign journalists remain blocked from entering.

“We haven’t been hearing an awful lot from Gaza since the ceasefire, or the so-called ceasefire,” he said. 

“Foreign journalists haven’t been allowed in there.”

Having travelled to both Israel and Palestine, McGettigan described what he witnessed at the border: 

“You’re suddenly almost in a third world country.

They have power cuts. They have water shortages.”

He noted this was “10 or 15 years ago,” saying the situation has long been deteriorating.

While he condemned the Hamas attack, he criticised Israel’s response: 

“It was like killing a flea with a sledgehammer.”

When he was asked whether he wanted Israel boycotted even before the Gaza war, McGettigan was not hesitant in his response: 

“Oh, definitely” he said, pointing to the lack of recognition of Palestine: 

“We in Ireland didn’t even recognise the state of Palestine.”

Questions were raised during the interview about whether such a boycott makes Ireland a global “moral arbiter.” 

McGettigan responded by emphasising the long history of music and protest, referencing public figures such as Woody Guthrie to Christie Moore: 

“Music and politics has always been intermingled.”

A Boycott the Eurovision in Israel protest organised by Palestinian rights campaigners takes place at RTE Studios in Dublin.

The singer was questioned on whether RTÉ, as a state-funded broadcaster, should be making political decisions. 

He insisted the move was necessary, noting support from staff: 

“The National Union of Journalists wanted this as well.

They had made inroads into RTÉ to try and get Israel barred from Eurovision.”

From McGettigan’s perspective, Ireland cannot return to the contest while the current Israeli government remains in place.

“With the present regime installed, I don’t think we should go back,” he said.

When challenged on whether an apology from Israel was ever a realistic expectation, he insisted it was:

“I don’t see why not.”

Written by Annemarie Roberts